BurgerSlave/PendantOfSepulchuralRepose

Pendant of Sepulcheral Repose

Many Abyssal Exalted operating in Creation are stymied by the incompatibility of living Essence with their own anima. Without being surrounded by the trappings of death, an Abyssal remains unable to regain Essence without stealing it from the living. While this does not often pose a problem to many Abyssals, some prefer to keep their profile low. Others rebel against their Deathlords, refusing to rob the living of their vital Essence.

Thus, many Abyssals carry the Pendant of Sepulcheral Repose. These are small nuggets of soulsteel empowered with the Essence of the Underworld, which are worn around the Exalt's neck. The Pendant serves to create a shadowland precisely one inch in diameter, held against the character's heart. By committing single mote of Essence to the Pendant, an Abyssal Exalt may regain Essence while in Creation as though he were in a shadowland. Also, he need not surround himself with the trappings of death in order to stave off the unpleasantness of being in Creation. He will still gain Resonance normally for performing life-affirming actions, however.

Curiously enough, these Pendants are also somewhat useful to Exalted other than Abyssals. Any non-Abyssal Exalt who successfully attunes a Pendant of Sepulcheral Peace does not regain Essence differently. However, any ghost or other denizen of the Underworld will perceive him as an Abyssal Exalt and treat him accordingly: add +2 to all Social rolls dealing with such creatures.

A level 2 version of this artifact, known as the Amulet of Funerary Splendor, includes a Hearthstone setting. Hearthstones from Underworld Manses placed within these Amulets function normally, even in Creation, although they only add half their rating to the Exalt's Essence regeneration. This is in addition to the powers of a Pendant of Sepulcheral Repose. Hearthstones from Creation or Yu-Shan do not function in an Amulet of Funerary Splendor, and will actually shatter if an Exalt tries to attune the Amulet with such a stone in it. Abyssals gain a point of Resonance if they try to set a non-Underworld Hearthstone in an Amulet of Funerary Splendor.

Commentary?

Hmm... a nice idea. However, I think it's underpriced. A level one Artifact that either eliminates one of the primary aspects of the Abyssal Curse (inability to regain essence in creation) or duplicates part of a theoretical fourth-tier Solar charm (that would be the as-yet-unwritten Abyssal Impersonation Style alluded to in EtA)? Think about a level one artifact that makes it more difficult for Solars to gain limit or prevents Sidereals from gaining Paradox, or makes them stop being arrogant? That's a bit more than a level one artifact. Consider: for an Abyssal to regain essence in Creation otherwise requires a thing with a hearthstone setting (artifact • and up) in addition to at least one level of Manse, the lousy Solar/Lunar/Sidereal version of Manse, at that! - Seraph